Champions gather for racing weekend

THE champions of the Irish Flat racing industry gathered recently to officially launch the annual Longines Irish Champions Weekend at the Merrion Hotel.

The weekend, which takes place on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, is Ireland’s most prestigious Flat racing weekend.

It also marks the first leg of the European Triple crown of championship race meetings with the QATAR Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp following in early October and the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot two weeks later.

The unique racing event

?? billed as the race meeting where the best in world come to meet – sees two of Ireland’s premier racecourses, Leopardstown and The Curragh, join forces to stage the highest concentration of quality Flat racing in Ireland.

Now in its fourth year, Longines Irish Champions Weekend attracts the world’s finest racehorses and jockeys with two iconic feature races, the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and The Comer Group International Irish St Leger.

And, for the second year running, Leopardstown Racecourse will stage the Champion Hat Competition to celebrate the fast-rising art of millinery in Ireland.

The Champion Hat Competition, once again sponsored by Moët & Chandon and run simultaneously with the Longines Prize for Elegance, will be judged solely on the hat or headpiece.

Champion Stylist, Ingrid Hoey, will be joined by top fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger Rosie Connolly to judge the Champion Hat Competition.

Ingrid will also select the most elegantly dressed lady and gentleman as part of the Longines Prize for Elegance competition which offers stylish racegoers the chance to win part of the

?¬25,000 luxury prize fund. 

The lucky winner of this unique and innovative style competition will receive a luxurious weekend stay for two in the 5-star Dylan Hotel, Dublin while celebrating with a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon.